Declaration to support the Connecting Europe Facility! Make your voice heard!

Creation date: October 26, 2012

The future of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the funding instrument designed to build and complete the railways, airport links, ports, maritime transport links, energy grids, pipelines, intelligent transport systems and broadband networks that are essential for Europe, is being decided now, with EU's 2014-2020 budget negotiations entering a crucial phase.

On 22 November 2012 Heads of State and Government will meet in a special summit in Brussels to decide on the next multiannual EU budget. A lot is at stake, including the proposal to allocate €50 billion to the CEF to trigger investment in the key European transport, energy and digital networks essential for growth.

As we approach the November summit, CEOs from 17 of Europe's leading businesses - from Grimaldi to Pirelli, Maersk and Ericsson - have signed a declaration underlining the need for Europe to "connect to compete' and calling on Heads of State and Government to support the Connecting Europe Facility.